Austrian SMEs report improved outlook, German auto dealers show modest gains in Q2 2026

The Austrian Chamber of Commerce’s trade and craft division surveyed 58,000 companies and found that 26 % now rate their business situation as “good”, up from 19 % in the previous quarter, while another 26 % consider it “bad”. Optimism has risen as firms report better order and revenue expectations compared with the same period last year, though pessimistic views still predominate by a small margin. Industry leader Markus Redl highlighted recent measures such as planned reductions in wage‑related costs and potential benefits from renewable‑energy legislation, and called for further relief on taxes, bureaucracy and labor costs.

In Germany, the second‑quarter 2026 BIX (Branchenindex) shows a cautious positive shift. Car‑dealership indices rose to 97 from a low of 96 earlier in the year, while workshop scores moved into positive territory at 101. The surge in electric‑vehicle registrations is reflected in the survey, with 23 % of respondents reporting higher new‑car sales compared with the previous year, although 39 % still see declines, especially among brands with limited EV offerings.